In the absence of Sky Sports, I managed to find quite a good feed of the Sky covergae on wiziwig.tv. Watched the first hour and had to retire. Probably a little more pleased with the close of play score this morning than an Aussie. Just.

I was too tired to watch any of it last night, so set my alarm early to watch an hour before leaving for work. After a quick check of the score, I reset my alarm and enjoyed the extra 45 mins in bed.
What an unmitigated disaster.

Having seen Johnson in India last month during the ODIs and the T20 before that , it was quite clear that he had cranked up his pace and was also bowling with good rhythm. It was good that CA pulled him out of the last ODI in India for some rest and for getting him in the Test mode. I am not at all surprised that he and for that matter the Harris and Siddle bowled the way they did. Day 3 has just about dawned in Brisbane but the match is already extremely interesting. I dont expect the English to capitulate again the way they did in the first innings. Can't wait...

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Some times you are the pigeon, some times the statue!

I spoke too soon....underestimated England's capacity to surrender so meekly. Mitch looks ominous. Bell and Pietersen had somehow masked the English batting frailties in summer. There's no place to hide now. The Aussies have smelt blood. It will be very interesting from now on...

What I think most English have forgotten is that the series in England was hardly a sweep-all-before-them triumph for Captain Cook's men.

While the Lord's Test was as unmitigated a disaster for Australia as this 'Gabba Test has been for England, the first Test in Nottingham very nearly went Australia's way, with only 14 runs separating the two teams; England was saved by the rain in the third Test at Old Trafford (and Australia declared twice), and the Oval Test (where Australia again had to declare twice due to rain to try to make a game of it) could well have been Australia's if the weather had held up throughout the match and Australia had had the opportunity to bat those five extra men. A 3-2 victory to England (or even a 2-all draw) in the last series would have been a fairer reflection of the competitiveness of the teams in that tour.

I think the rain and bad light in England masked a lot of problems in the English side which have been brutally exposed at the Gabbatoir. As a parochial Aussie, naturally I hope the English don't find a solution for these problems in the next four matches.

What I think most English have forgotten is that the series in England was hardly a sweep-all-before-them triumph for Captain Cook's men.

While the Lord's Test was as unmitigated a disaster for Australia as this 'Gabba Test has been for England, the first Test in Nottingham very nearly went Australia's way, with only 14 runs separating the two teams; England was saved by the rain in the third Test at Old Trafford (and Australia declared twice), and the Oval Test (where Australia again had to declare twice due to rain to try to make a game of it) could well have been Australia's if the weather had held up throughout the match and Australia had had the opportunity to bat those five extra men. A 3-2 victory to England (or even a 2-all draw) in the last series would have been a fairer reflection of the competitiveness of the teams in that tour.

I think the rain and bad light in England masked a lot of problems in the English side which have been brutally exposed at the Gabbatoir. As a parochial Aussie, naturally I hope the English don't find a solution for these problems in the next four matches.

Instead they seek comfort in what the record books show and the use of the appeals system protecting someone who should have walked when he knew it was out and the screens were confirming it.